A chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using liposome preparation including immunomodulator OK-432

Effect of liposome preparation including immunomodulator OK-432(OK-Lipo) on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) was investigated. The liposome composed of L-α-dipalmitoylphospha-tidylcholine, cholesterol and stearylamine in a molar ratio of 52:40:8 was preparated by extrusion and/or ultrasonication with OK-432. Experiments as concerning with liver associated lymphocyte in mice were exerted prior to clinical use. In the cases of transportalvenous injection of OK-Lipo, CD3+/IL-2Rβ+ cells as liver associated lymphocyte were increased in the liver. It was shown that CD8+ cells were predominant. CD3-/IL-2Rβ+ cells as natural killer cell were increased in the liver for intravenous injection. Patients with HCC were received transarterial injection of OK-lipo + cisplatin-epiru-bicin-lipiodol emulsion(CELE). Prominent lymphocyte infiltrations in the tumor and the extra-tumor were observed in case 1 patient, who was operable. Compared with patients received by CELE only, the proportion of CD3+ cells was elevated in the liver and tumor. CD4+ cells were predominant in OK-Lipo. In all cases(OK-Lipo), fever was not detected and rise in white cell counts and rapid fall in lymphocyte counts were obserbed after therapy. A combination with OK-Lipo and CELE for HCC appears to be more effective.